Socialist Action /April 2000
Critical Court Decision Ahead for Mumia
By JEFF MACKLER
Within the next 60 days, Leonard Weinglass, chief legal counsel for Mumia
Abu-Jamal, expects a critical decision to be issued in the case of Mumia
Abu-Jamal.
Condemned to death in Philadelphia 18 years ago by the notorious racist
"hanging judge" Albert Sabo, award-winning journalist Abu-Jamal
has set an example for all on how best to defend one's life against a police
and government frame-up, and to fight for the rights of oppressed people
everywhere.
By mid-April both the Pennsylvania prosecution and Mumia defense teams
have committed themselves to submit all legal briefs and related material
to the court of Federal District Judge William H. Yohn Jr., who will shortly
afterward set a date for oral arguments.
Yohn has given every indication that he will proceed on the fast track
in this internationally debated case. More than 30,000 letters in support
for a new trial for Abu-Jamal have already been sent to Yohn via the office
of Leonard Weinglass.
Jamal will be present in court during the oral arguments, perhaps in
mid-May. Tens of thousands of supporters across the country and internationally
are expected to mobilize in Philadelphia outside the federal building, at
Market and 6th Streets, and will "Stand with Mumia" on that date.
Organizing efforts have moved into high gear for the bicoastal mass mobilizations
set for May 13 in San Francisco and Philadelphia, as well as in cities across
the globe. Thus far, demonstrations are expected in some 70 countries worldwide.
(See the International Call for May 13 below.)
In San Francisco, organizers for the sponsoring group, The Mobilization
to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, have distributed 100,000 flyers for May 13 and
expect to print an additional 100,000 in the coming weeks. The San Francisco
mobilization will assemble at 11 a.m., at Justin Herman Plaza at the foot
of Market Street and march to the Civic Center Plaza for a 1 p.m. rally.
The San Francisco and Alameda County Central Labor Councils have added
their support to the May 13 effort and have also joined a regional effort
to co-sponsor a one-day "Labor Conference for Mumia Abu-Jamal,"
on May 12 at the headquarters of SEIU Local 250 in Oakland. Brian McWilliams,
International President of the ILWU, has joined the list of trade unions
and labor officials supporting this event, which is also designed to organize
a labor contingent in the May 13 protest.
Yet another national debate on Mumia's case erupted a few weeks ago when
the student body at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, invited Mumia
to present an audio-taped speech during the college's commencement proceedings.
Both the student body and college administration have rebuffed efforts by
the Fraternal Order of Police to withdraw the invitation to Abu-Jamal.
Indicating the deep influence Mumia's struggle for freedom has had on
college students and youth more generally, Antioch asked Mumia to choose
one of two topics as the subject of his commencement address: "How
One Individual Can Affect the World" or "The True Meaning of Revolution."
A broad range of events are now in preparation as building actions for
May 13 in the San Francisco Bay Area. These include a Saturday, April 29,
7:30 pm, "Celebrate the Children of Resistance" dramatic presentation
sponsored by the Rosenberg Fund for Children and the Middle East Children's
Alliance at the Berkeley Community Theater.
Organized by Robbie and Michael Meeropol, the sons of the falsely convicted
and murdered victims of the McCarthy-era witch hunt, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg,
the event includes Mazi Jamal, a son of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Other prominent
Mumia supporters will also participate, including Danny Glover, Ed Asner,
Holly Near, Martin Espada, Janice Mirikitani, and Ani Difranco.
The event is co-sponsored by The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Local activists plan to distribute 50,000 leaflets to the expected 3600
people who will attend the theater.
In Philadelphia plans are underway for a May 13 march and rally aimed
at involving families who have experienced police repression in that area
of the country. The International Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
and the May 13 Coalition/Mothers Against Police Terror have joined efforts
in this regard.
In New York City, a major "Day for Mumia" is set for May 7,
2 p.m., at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Ave. and 32nd Street.
It is sponsored by the May 7th Day for Mumia Mobilization. Speakers and
performers include Ossie Davis, Susan Sarandon, Rage Against the Machine,
Leonard Weinglass, Mike Farrell, Ed Asner, Ramsey Clark, Angela Davis, Alice
Walker, and many others.
For further information: In San Francisco, (415) 695-7745; e-mail, alerts@freemumia.org; website,
www.freemumia.org
In Philadelphia, (215) 476-8812; e-mail, mumia@aol.com;
website, www.mumia.org.
In New York, (212) 633-6646; website, www.mumia2000.org;
e-mail, iacenter@iacenter.org.
Socialist Action /April 2000 |